Council gives first reading to $313 million budget; second reading to come Thursday

The Urban County Council gave first reading Tuesday to a $313 million general fund budget that includes raises for most city employees, money for new police officers and correction officers and $8 million for a new senior citizen's center at Idle Hour park.

Lexington Fayette Urban County Government council chambers
Herald-Leader

The Urban County Council gave first reading Tuesday to a $313 million general fund budget that includes raises for most city employees, money for new police officers and correction officers and $8 million for a new senior citizen's center at Idle Hour park.

The proposed $313 million budget is 5 percent higher than the current budget of $301 million. The council made few changes to Mayor Jim Gray's proposed budget, re-allocating about $800,000. Gray had proposed giving 31 social service programs a total of $2.5 million. The council increased that budget, giving 59 programs a little more than $3.1 million. Also included in the budget is money for 15 new police officers, 15 new correction officers and money for improvements to the Kentucky Theater. The council is scheduled to give a second and final reading on Thursday. Gray has 10 days to veto any part of the budget. The budget must be passed by June 30.